Central Midlands Alliance
Founded1983
CountryEngland
Divisions
  • North Division
  • South Division
  • Division 1
    (North, South, East, West)
  • Division 2
Number of teams92
17 (North Division)
18 (South Division)
10 (Division One North)
12 (Division One East)
12 (Division One West)
10 (Division One South)
13 (Division Two) [1]
Level on pyramid11th (North and South Divisions)
Feeder to
Promotion toNorthern Counties East League Division One
United Counties League Division One
Domestic cup(s)League Challenge Cup
Current championsRetford United (Premier North)
Clay Cross Town (Premier South)
Most championshipsHucknall Town (Three times, 1990, 1991 and 2019)
WebsitePitchero

The Central Midlands Alliance is an English football league covering the northeast-central part of England. Formed in 1971 as the South Derbyshire League, changing name initially to the Derbyshire League before changing to the Central Midlands League in 1983, it covers parts of Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and Staffordshire, although Sheffield-based teams play in the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior Football League. The league's current sponsor is Abacus Lighting. Upon merging with the Midland Regional Alliance in 2023, the current name was adopted. The number of divisions has varied over time as follows

  • 1983–84: Premier, Premier First, Senior and First
  • 1984–85 to 1985–86: Premier, Central, Senior and First
  • 1986–87 to 1987–88: Supreme, Premier, First and Second
  • 1988–89 to 1990–91: Supreme, Premier and First
  • 1991–92: Supreme, Premier North and Premier South
  • 1992–93 to 2010–11: Supreme and Premier
  • 2011–12 to 2012-13: North and South
  • 2012–13 to 2014-15: North, South, Reserve Supreme and Reserve Premier
  • 2015–16 to 2016-17: North, South, Reserve Division
  • 2017–18 to 2018-19: North, South, Reserve Supreme and Division One
  • 2018–19 to 2019-20: North, South, Division One North and South
  • 2019–20 to 2021-22: North, South, Division One North, South and Central
  • 2022–23: North, South, Division One North, East and West
  • 2023–24 onwards: North, South, Division One North, South, East and West and Division 2

Within the English football league system, the Central Midlands League's top two divisions, called the North Division and South Division, were considered part of the National League System (at Step 7) until 2020, when they were redesignated as NLS county feeders. Four clubs from the previously-named Premier Division had the distinction of being the lowest-ranked clubs, and only ones outside the NLS, accepted for the 2006–07 FA Vase. For the 2008–09 season, eight of the leading sides left the Central Midlands League to join forces with eight clubs from the Leicestershire Senior League to form a new league, the East Midlands Counties League, at Step 6 of the National League System. For the 2015–16 season reserve teams of clubs who play higher up the pyramid were allowed to participate in the league for the first time.

One club per season from the North and South Divisions may be promoted (subject to ground standards and a top five finish) to either the Northern Counties East League Division One or United Counties League Division One. Some clubs have progressed from the CML to the National League North and Northern Premier League. A representative side from the league takes part in the FA Inter-League Cup.

Current members

The member clubs of the league for the 2023–24 season are as follows:

Division Two

  • Ashland Rovers Reserves
  • Ashover
  • Aston Village
  • Bargate Rovers Reserves
  • Castle Donington Reserves
  • Little Eaton Reserves
  • Markeaton
  • Melbourne Dynamo Reserves
  • Newhall United CMA
  • Sherwin
  • Willington United
  • Winster Darley Lions
  • Wirksworth Ivanhoe Reserves

League champions

SeasonPremier Division
1983–84Shepshed Charterhouse reserves
1984–85Rossington Main
1985–86Stanton
SeasonSupreme DivisionPremier Division
1986–87Hinckley TownStanton
1987–88Harworth Colliery InstituteHuthwaite
1988–89BostonPriory
1989–90Hucknall TownMickleover Royal British Legion
1990–91Hucknall TownMickleover Royal British Legion
1991–92Lincoln UnitedNorth Fryston Colliery Welfare
South Slack & Parr
1992–93Arnold TownSandiacre Town
1993–94GlapwellNuthall
1994–95Heanor TownClipstone Welfare
1995–96Oakham UnitedKillamarsh Juniors
1996–97Heanor TownClipstone Welfare
1997–98Gedling TownGoole AFC
1998–99Mickleover SportsLincoln Moorlands
1999–00Lincoln MoorlandsHolbrook
2000–01Shirebrook TownNorth Notts
2001–02Shirebrook TownRetford United
2002–03Carlton TownPelican
2003–04Retford UnitedRadcliffe Olympic
2004–05DunkirkAFC Barnsley
2005–06Barton Town Old BoysBilborough Pelican
2006–07Bottesford TownHatfield Main
2007–08Askern WelfareOllerton Town
2008–09Radcliffe OlympicLouth Town
2009–10Louth TownChurch Warsop
2010–11Sheffield ParramoreYorkshire Main
SeasonNorth DivisionSouth Division
2011–12Westella & WillerbyBasford United
2012–13Dronfield TownSutton Town
2013–14AFC MansfieldClifton All Whites
2014–15BilsthorpeMickleover Royals
2015–16GlapwellSelston
2016–17F.C. BolsoverSelston
2017–18Harworth CollieryEastwood
2018–19RetfordHucknall Town
2019–20Season abandoned owing to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21Season curtailed
2021–22Newark TownBlidworth Welfare
2022–23Retford UnitedClay Cross Town

League Challenge Cup

The league also runs the Central Midlands League Challenge Cup, which is contested by every club in the league. Since 2001 every final has been played at Alfreton Town's North Street stadium.

Finals

Season Winner Result Runner-up Venue
2000–01 Shirebrook Town 1 – 0 Collingham North Street
2001–02 Retford United 1 – 0 Thorne Colliery North Street
2002–03 Dinnington Town 2 – 0 Dunkirk North Street
2003–04 Retford United 1 – 0 Dinnington Town North Street
2004–05 Sandiacre Town 1 – 0 Dunkirk North Street
2005–06 Dinnington Town 2 – 1 Askern Welfare North Street
2006–07 Heanor Town 5 – 3 Ollerton Town North Street
2007–08 Dunkirk 1 – 0 Blidworth Welfare North Street
2008–09 Sutton Town 2 – 0 Westella & Willerby North Street
2009–10 Newark Town 4 – 4(p) Louth Town North Street
2010–11 Yorkshire Main 2 – 2(p) Kirkby Town North Street
2011–12 Dronfield Town 5 – 2 Clifton All Whites North Street
2012–13 Clifton All Whites 1 – 0 AFC Mansfield North Street
2013–14 AFC Mansfield 2 – 1 Thorne Colliery North Street
2014–15 Hucknall Town 3 – 0 Clifton All Whites North Street
2015–16 Hucknall Rolls Leisure 2 – 1 Blidworth Welfare North Street
2016–17 Selston 2 – 0 Hucknall Town North Street
2017–18 Pinxton 4 – 3 Collingham North Street
2018–19 Pinxton 4 – 4(p) Hucknall Town North Street
2019-20Season abandoned owing to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21Season curtailed
2021–22 Linby Colliery Welfare 1 – 1(p) Mickleover Royal British Legion North Street
2022–23 Mickleover Royal British Legion 4 – 2 Clay Cross Town North Street[2]

[3]

References

  1. "2023-2024 CML numbers". FA Full Time. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  2. "Buckingham Insurance League Cup 22-23". Central Midlands Football League. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  3. "Mickleover RBL 4 2 Clay Cross Town". FA Full Time. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
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